Master-clock.



W. F. STRAUB & A. A. RADTKE.

MASTER CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. H, 19| 3.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W-. F. STRAUB 64 A. A. RADTKE.

MASTER CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. I9I3.

Patented ])6(3.14,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- fiifizaapew [723/8 7125711" w. F. SIRAUB & A A RADTKE.

MASTER CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.11, I913 1,164,557, Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

. Fig. 11 is a spring mechanism.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

'WILLIAM'F. STRAUB AND ALBERT VA. RADTKE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; SAID STRAUB ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC TIME RECORDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MASTER-CLOCK.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIaM F. STRAUB and ALBERT A. RADTKE, citlzens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the. county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Master-Clocks, of which the fol-'1 more particularly with an electrically driven master clock of this character which is so arranged that it periodically winds itself, preferably with each actuation of the moving element of the clock. V

()ur invention also concerns itself more specifically with the provision of means whereby should the motive power which drives the clock be shut off, suitable instrumentalities are set in operation to prevent;

as generally to rotate therewith, the purpose unwinding of the clock spring.

Our invention further concerns itself with the provision of improved controlling mechanism for the master clock and also with the provision of improved means for regulating.

Our invention also concerns itself with the provision of improved constructional features for the electromagnets which may be used, and also other constructional features all as will appear more in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of carrying out our invention, in which- Figure 1 is'a side View partially in section of our improved master clock; Fig. 2 is a view more'clearly to illustrate the electromagnetic driving mechanism therefor; Fig. 3 sets forth a detail of construction for the electromagnet; Fig. 4 is a view more in detail to set forth the unwind" preventing mechanism; Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the switching mechanism; Figs. 6 and 7 are respecl-ively top and sectional views of the regulating mechanism, Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail views to illustrate different operative positions of the controlling, mechanism, and detail view of the driving Referring more particularly to Fig. l, we

' operate.

11 p votally secured thereto are pivotally asshow a back plate 1 upon which all of the tromagnets 4, 5 and 6. The plate 3 is suitably recessed as at 7 and 8 to'accommodate the protruding core ends of the electromagnets. These electromagnets as more clearly shown in Fig. 3 have a glass core 9 within WhlCh suitable plungers '10 are adapted to These plungers by means of links Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed February 11, 1913. Serial No. 747,654. I l

sociated with a driving pin 12 mounted upon a rotatable element 13 consisting of two oppositely disposed halves fastened together, which element/ 13 through the agency of balls 14 is rotatably mounted in a casing 15 consisting of oppositely disposed halves, which casing 15 is rigidly secured to'the table 3 by means of the pins 16 and distance pieces 17. A shaft 18 is rotatably mounted upon the element 13. within a collar 19 but so,

of which will presently appear. The three electromagnets l, 5 and 6 are adapted for successive energization, and it may be assumed,-for instance, (Fig. 2) that electromagnet 4 has just been energized; that electromagnet 5 is then to be energized, and that electromagnet 6 is then to be energized, and so on indefinitely. In this way it will be seen that the links 11 by reason of their pivotalmounting with the pin 12 rotate the element 13 periodically as these magnets are energized and the rotation of this shaft 18 in response thereto finally through the interposition of suitable apparatus causes winding of the clock spring 20. suitable switch arm 21 controlled by the shaft 18 causes the successive energization of the electromagnets as will presently appear, and through the agency of suitable controlling mechanism 22 the movement of this switch arm 21 is regulated in accordance with the rotatable element under the control of the spring 20 so that the electromagnets 4, 5 and 6 are energized in rotation at predetermined periods of time. --Suitable escapement mechanism illustrated at 23 controls the unwinding movement of the spring 20, and suitable mechanism controlled by a slight reverse 1'06 m ovement of the spring containing casing.

causes suitable instrumentalities to engage the gear wheel 24: to prevent unwinding of the spring of the clock should the power which drives the electromagnets 4, 5 and 6 be stopped.

It may be well to say that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, for instance, the electromagnet 4 is no longer energized, but electromagnet 5 is energized through the switch element 21, but this electromagnet 5 is not permitted to cause a movement of the element 13 in response to this energization until the controlling mechanism 22 has been operated in response to a certain predetermined unwinding movement of the spring 20. Tu this wise there is a continual pull by one or the-other of the electromagnets tending to rotate the shaft 18, and thus wind the spring. But the movement of the shaft 18 is permitted in response to this pull only in answer to a certain unwinding movement of the spring 20. The switch element 21 besides energizing the magnets in rotation may then serve at the same time to transmit the necessary impulses required by secondary clocks as will be readily apparent, the movement of this switch element being suitably governed by the time keeping mechanism of 30 this clock as stated. We have thus set forth in a general way the general functions of the various parts and will now describe how these various functions are carried out.

The shaft 18, which as stated is carried by the element 19, extends upwardly, terminating in a hearing at 25. This shaft 18 at its upper. extremity is pinned by means of the pin 26 to a split plate 27 which is rotatably mounted within the cup 28. This plate 27 by means of the pin 29 is attached to one end of the spring 20, the other end of this spring by means of the pin 30 being fastened or fixedly secured to the cup 28, and the gear wheel 31 is fastened to this cup. A cover 32 fastened to the gear wheel 31 closes the cup shaped device carrying the spring and provides ample bearing facilities for this device on the shaft 18. From this it will be seen that as the shaft 18 is rotated, it rotates the pin 26, which rotates the element 27 carrying the pin 29, thus winding up the spring 20. The spring acts against the pin 30 to thereby rotate the cup shaped element 28 with its gear wheel 31. This gear wheel 31 engages a second gear wheel 33 operating suitable escapement mechanism 23 to regulate the clock or time keeping mechanism.

We might say that in using the words clock or time keeping mechanism herein, we of course mean to include any kind of horological instrument or device adapted to give regular rotation or to rotate regularly. This escapement mechanism has a suitable balance wheel 34 fastened to one means? end of a spring which happens to be hidden by this balance wheel, the free end of which spring however by means of the pin 35 is held on a suitable arm 36 and this arm is held in a bracket 37 carried upon the plate 38. carrying the escapement mechanism and supporting the upper endof the shaft 18. This plate 38 is of course suitably held in place upon the standard 39, which standard is likewise secured to the shelf or plate 3. In order to secure an easy and ready ad justment of the teeth of this balance wheel spring 40, shown in Fig. 6, we mount the arm 36 u on a plate 11, which plate is 1'0- tatably held within the bracket 37. This plate 41 has a thread 42 thereon which is adapted to cooperate with a worm 43, which worm may be rotated, a saw slot 14 being provided for this-purpose; After the worm has been rotated into its proper position, a locking screw 15 may be fastened in place to maintain the proper adjustment.

From what has been described it will be seen that the energy of the electromagnets 4, 5 and 6 is utilized to wind up the spring 20. Now if no controlling mechanism such as 22 to be presently described, be provided the magnets 1, 5 and 6 would rotate the shaft 18 continually until the spring 20 were absolutely tightly wound up, which of course is undesirable. This control iseffected by the instrumentalities now to be described. The element 19, which as stated carries the shaft 18, has a slot 46 within which a projection 4:7 provided upon the hub =18 of the wheel 21 may project so that this gear wheel 24 rotates with the shaft 18. The upper portion ofthe hub48 likewise has a further projection 49 which is adapted to engage a downwardly projecting finger 50 of a sleeve 51. This sleeve" 51 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 18, being confined at its upper end by the flange 52 and resting at its lower extremity upon'the upper portion of the hub 48. This sleeve 51 together with the instrumentalities which it carries is thus free to rotate on -the'shaft;18 within the limits permitted by the lingers49 and 50, which in the instance herein shown is about fivesiXths or seve neighths of a revolution.

This sleeve '51 is preferably constructed of metal but carries an insulating sleeve 53 suitably held between a Genevawheel 51 and nuts 55. The Geneva wheel 51 is fixedly secured to the sleeve 51. This insulating collar 53 carries the contact spring 21 sothat this contact spring is insulated from the sleeve 51. The contact spring is held in place upon the sleeve 53"by means of the col- 'lar 56, which is fastened to the sleeve, and

which collar has downwardly projecting pins 57 engaging this contact element 21. The Geneva wheel consists of two parts, the upper 58 and the lower section 54. the upper section having three tooth slots 59 and the lower having three pairs of teeth 60, re-

, spectively.

It will thus be seen that the movable device which is'movably mounted on the shaft 18 consists of the nuts 55, sleeve 51, the sleeve 53 and the Geneva wheels 54 and 58, and this movable structure is controlled by the engagement between theprojection 49 and 50. The standard 39 is hollow and contains a cable 61-whicli leadsto the various contact segments 62, 63,- 64-: and 65 with which the element 21 contact'sfthe' contact segments 62, 63, 64 and 65 controlling respectively the circuits to theelectromagnets 4, 5 and .6. The shaft 18 carries-a three toothed wheel 66 loosely mounted thereon with which upwardly projecting rollers 67,

67 a mounted upon a pallet 68 engage. Thiswheel 66 is pinned to a hub 84 which hub rotates with the cup 28 and-is thus driven directly by the unwinding spring, moving with the same velocity as the gear wheel 31. This pallet is mounted on a shaft 69 carried between brackets 70, 70, which brackets are secured to the back plate 1. This pallet 68,

in a clockwise direction of rotation (Fig. 9)

the surface 75 will be against'the cam 71 and tend torotate this pallet 68 in a contraclockwise direction of rotation. and vice versa; Now the movement of this pallet 68,-

is more or less under the control of this toothed wheel 66 as will presently appear and the plate 7 3 is moved periodically by;

pins 76, 77 or 78 carried by a gear wheel'7 9. This gear wheel is pivotally mounted between the brackets 70, 7 0.. This gear wheel 79' is of the Geneva type and has at that portion thereof which engages the element 54 six teeth 80, 80, and has at that portion thereof which engages the element 58 three teeth directly above those teeth 80 which carry the pins 76, 77 and 78, and which are in fact continuations of "these teeth. Now

' the pins 76, 77 and 78 are adapted to engage projecting portions 81 and 82 respectively which project into the hole 88 punched out of the plate 73. Now when the plate 73 is in the condition shown inFig. 9, the pin 76 is held against the projection 81 with the roller 67 bearing against a tooth of the wheel 66 and preventing movement of these elements 73 and 68. Now after the-wheel 66 has rotated into the position shown in Fig. 10, then the pin 76 has pressed against Y the projection 81, moved the plate 73 contraclockwise, thereby permitting disengagement between the pin 76 and the projection 81, the roller 67 thereby entering the space between the teeth of the wheel 66, vsfhereupon pin -77engages. the projection 82, thereby moving the plate 73 clockwise and bringing roller 67 against the teeth of the wheel 66,

in which position the parts are then held until the tooth has moved'beyond its position of engagement with the roller 67 (Fig. 8),

whereupon this tooth' 77 has pushed the roller 67 into thisspace, but will thereupon disengage itself from the projection. 82 and permit the pin 78 to engage the projection 81,'at which time roller 67 will again press seen that with every actuation of these parts, the'wheel 79 moves the distance of but one tooth and thus each actuation of this controlling device byv permitting a movement of the wheel 79 through the space of one tooth permits a certain movement of the Geneva mechanism 54, 58, which is con- .stantly under the pressure of the rotating hub 48. The gear wheel '79 by virtue of its teeth prevents the rotation of this Genevawheel 54, 58 except at such times as the con-- trolling device is actuated. The teeth having the pins and which teeth extend throughoutxthe width of the wheel 79 aretheonesthat are adapted to enter the spaces 59, whereas theunpinned teeth engage/the outside surfaces of the teeth 60, 60 respec-' tively. Thus in the position of Fig. 9, assuming that the wheel 58 tends to move contra-clockwise (Figs. Sand 9) the outside surface of a tooth 6() presses against the tooth 80 with a tooth 80 having the pin 78 i in positionto enter the slot 59 Now when permits rotation of the wheel the space of one tooth, the parts'will come to rest as shown in Fig. 10 with the pinned tooth 80. carrying the pin 77 occupying the opening 59, which lies also between the teeth 60, 60. Now when a further movement of the controlling parts takes place, permitting rotation of'the wheel 79 through the dis-..-

roup,

tance of one tooth of the six tooth then there is nothing to prevent rotation of the Geneva wheels 54, 58 throughout very nearly a third of a revolution or until the succeeding unpinned tooth is engaged by the outside surface of the next following tooth 60, which restores the parts to the position occupied in Fig. 9.

It will thus be seen that while throughout one revolution of the shaft 18 the gear wheel 79 makes six movements, each corresponding 2;

to one tooth, the Geneva wheels 54, 58 also make six movements, but three of these movements are short movements and three of them are long sweeps. During the short movements the spring does not leave the against a tooth of wheel 56 to restore the parts to the position of Fig. 9. It will be the movement of the parts takes. lace which v 9 through contact plate with which it is in engagement, but during the long sweep which follows, the switch spring 21 moves to the next following contact segment to thereby energize the next following electromagnet, which thereby tends further to rotate the shaft 18 but which is then still held against rotation by reason of the gear 79.

From what has been described it is thought the general operation of the controlling device will be clear. Now should the source of power for supplying current to the electromagnets be interrupted, it is clearly apparent that the spring 20 would tend to unwind and thus be likely to cause difiiculty and leave the parts in such a condition that considerable adjustmentwould be necessary before they would be in working order. This difficulty of course would be readily apparent, for instance, when the device is being shipped. Now to hold all the parts in their normal position ready for positive and proper actuation immediately the current is turned on, we provide mechanism which prevents movement of the parts except when there is current operating the device and these devices consist preferablv of a rotatably mounted shaft 85 carrying two arms respectively 86 and 87. A. spring 88 tends to rotate this shaft contra-clocks wise in such a way that the arm 87 presses against the teeth of the gear wheel 24. Now as this gear wheel 24 rotates contra-clockwise (Fig. 4:), the arm 87 rides over these teeth, but now should the power be shut off from the electromagnets, then the spring 20 tends to rotate the shaft 18 (Fig. 1) clockwise, thereby disengaging the projections49 and 50 and rotating the gear wheel 24 clockwise in a manner to have its teeth engage the arm 87 so as to cause a slight rotation of i the shaft 85, whereby the arm 86 engages the teeth of the gear wheel 31, thus preventing further rotation of any of the parts with which the opposite extremities of the spring 20 is connected and the spring will thus not unwind, even should the power be shut of. lit is for this reason that the contact spring 21 is mounted on a sleeve freely rotatable about the shaft 18 because this delicate spring 20 would not of itself have suflicient power to rotate this contact finger 21 over its cooperating contact segments, but of course have sufficient power merely to rotate the shaft 18 which carries with it nothing in its reverse rotation but the gear wheel 24. It may be noted that there is lost motion between the plates 71 and the abutments 75, 75 because if they were resting against each other continually, the power supplied to the device would of course bind all the parts in such a way that no motion would take place.

We have thus set forth specifically a form in which our invention may be embodied,

" but it will of course be readily apparent that .means, driven by the unwinding of said spring, and

by Letters Patent is:

1'. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, of means for periodically winding said watch spring, motive mechanism for exerting a continuous operative effort upon said means,

and means operable upon disability of said motive mechanism by the rotation of said first aforesaid means to prevent unwinding of said watch spring.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, of means for periodically winding said watch spring, a wheel normally continuously driven by the unwinding of said spring, and means operable upon a reverse operation of said first aforesaid means to prevent rotation of said wheel.

3. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, of means for periodically winding said watch p 7 driven by the unwinding of said spring, and means operable upon a reverse operation of said first aforesaid means to prevent rotation of said wheel and locking said first aforesaid means.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a watch spring, of meansfor periodically winding said Watch spring, a toothed wheel associated with said a wheel normally continuously means operable upon reverse rotation of said toothed wheel to lock said spring driven wheel and said first aforesaid means.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a watch spring, of means for periodically winding said watch spring, a toothed wheel associated with said means, a wheel normally continuously driven by the unwinding of said spring, and means operable upon reverse rotation of said toothed wheel to lock said spring driven wheel and said first aforesaid means, said last aforesaid means including an oscillatory shaft and a pair of arms, one to engage each wheel.

6. In a device of the character described,

a wheel normally continuously the combination with a watch spring, of,

means for periodically winding said watch spring, a toothed wheel associated with said means, a wheel normally continuously driven by the unwinding of said spring, and means operable upon reverse rotation of said toothed wheel to lock said spring driven wheel and said first aforesaid means, said last aforesaid means including an oscillatory shaft, a pair of arms, one to engage each wheel, and a spring tending to press said arms against said wheels.

7. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, electromagnetic means for periodically winding said watch spring, said means including a the combination with a watch spring, electromagnetic means for periodically winding said watch spring, a contact maklng device driven by said means and having a lost motion connection therewith, said watch spring serving to rotate said first aforesaid means in a reverse manner without moving said contact making means upon denergization of said electromagnetic means.

9. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, of means for periodically winding said watch spring, means continuously driven by the unwinding of said spring, and means operable upon a reverse operation of said first aforesaid means to prevent rotation of said second aforesaid means.

In wi'tnesswhereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 13th day of January, A. D.

WILLIAM F. STRAUB. ALBERT A. RADTKE. Witnesses:

MAX WV. ZABEL, HAZEL ANN JONES. 

